South Side Cyclery (6969 Gravois Avenue; 314-481-1120) Since the 1930s, the family-run South Side Cyclery has been outfitting St. Louis bikers with bikes and equipment to help get them around the city or around the racetrack. Today, the Gravois Avenue shop offers a wide variety of adult and children's mountain, road and BMX bicycles that all come with free assembly and adjustments for a year. The experts at South Side Cyclery bring knowledge and a helpful, friendly approach to their sales, and they help you pick out the right bike, whether you are looking for weekend rides around Missouri's beautiful trails or you're trying to ditch your car for an healthier, more eco-friendly commute. They also help you put their knowledge into practice when you test ride your new bike in their large lot, so you never have to worry about bicycle-buyer's remorse.
St. Louis Bicycle Works (4102 Shenandoah Avenue; 314-664-0828) What is a bicycle? Is it just a mode of transportation or piece of exercise equipment? Is a bike just something that you ride, or is it something that can alter your life and open up an avenue to possibilities you never before imagined? At St. Louis Bicycle Works bikes are about making dreams come true and building confidence and discipline. In addition to its warehouse of refurbished bikes and used and hard-to-find parts, Bicycle Works provides kids with an opportunity to earn a bicycle by learning how they work. Through its free six-week program, kids learn hands-on about how to maintain a bike, rider safety and problem solving, and receive a free bicycle, helmet, safety light and lock, in addition to a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. In its 24-year history, more than 10,000 inner-city youths have earned bicycles that were more than just toys. Bicycle Works also has a knowledgeable staff that will help you get a great bike at a reasonable price, and they'll help you keep it in great shape too.
Mesa Cycles (1035 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-645-4447) For those who realize that a bicycle is more than just two wheels that help get us from one point to the next, there's Mesa Cycles. Mesa is serious about bikes, which is why they carry some of the finest pieces of machinery available in the St. Louis area, including a heavy emphasis on Specialized brand bicycles and equipment. Don't let the price tags at Mesa scare you off -- these beauties are built to last. The store, located in Richmond Heights, also offers in-house services including overhauls and custom-built bikes. Looking for some tips? Every employee is a rider, so expert advice comes standard.
